What does “sakebu” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “sakebu” often to mean ‘to shout’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, songs, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “sakebu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meanings of “sakebu”
- Sakebanai: the nai form of “sakebu”
- Sakebou: the volitional form of “sakebu”
- Sakebimasu: the masu form of “sakebu”
- Sakenda: the past tense form of “sakebu”
- Sakende: the te form of “sakebu”
- Sakebeba: the ba form of “sakebu”
- Summary
Definition and meanings of “sakebu”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “sakebu”.
- sakebu – 叫ぶ (さけぶ) : a verb meaning ‘to shout’, ‘to yell’, or ‘to scream’ in Japanese.
The definition and meanings are not difficult. The meanings seem to be based on similar concepts. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “shout” in Japanese
watashi no kodomo wa tokidoki sakebu – 私の子供は時々叫ぶ (わたしのこどもはときどきさけぶ)
My kids sometimes shout.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
- kodomo – 子供 (こども) : a noun meaning ‘kid’ or ‘child’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi no kodomo” to make the subject in the sentence.
- tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “sakebu”. When we want to mean ‘to shout’ in Japanese, this verb is a good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “sakebu” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “sakebanai”.
Sakebanai: the nai form of “sakebu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “sakebanai”.
- sakebanai – 叫ばない (さけばない) : the nai form of “sakebu”, which means ‘not to shout’, ‘not to yell’, or ‘not to scream’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “sakebanai” consists of the following two parts:
- sakeba – 叫ば (さけば) : one conjugation of “sakebu”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “sakebanai” is literally the nai form of “sakebu” and means ‘not to shout’, ‘not to yell’, or ‘not to scream’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “not shout” in Japanese
watashi no musume wa sakebanai – 私の娘は叫ばない (わたしのむすめはさけばない)
My daughter doesn’t shout.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- musume – 娘 (むすめ) : a noun meaning ‘daughter’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “sakebanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to shout’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Sakebou: the volitional form of “sakebu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “sakebou”.
- sakebou – 叫ぼう (さけぼう) : the volitional form of “sakebu”, which expresses volition to shout, yell, or scream.
Grammatically, “sakebou” consists of the following two parts:
- sakebo – 叫ぼ (さけぼ) : one conjugation of “sakebu”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
- u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “sakebou” is literally the volitional form of “sakebu” and expresses volition to shout, yell, or scream. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s shout” in Japanese
issho ni sakebou – 一緒に叫ぼう (いっしょにさけぼう)
Let’s shout together!
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- issho – 一緒 (いっしょ) : a noun meaning ‘same’, ‘being together’, or such in Japanese.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say how someone does something. In the example, this is used after “issho” to say “together” in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “sakebou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s shout” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Sakebimasu: the masu form of “sakebu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “sakebimasu”.
- sakebimasu – 叫びます (さけびます) : the masu form of “sakebu”, which means ‘to shout’, ‘to yell’, or ‘to scream’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “sakebimasu” consists of the following two parts:
- sakebi – 叫び (さけび) : one conjugation of “sakebu”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “sakebimasu” is literally the masu form of “sakebu” and means ‘to shout’, ‘to yell’, or ‘to scream’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “shout” politely in Japanese
boku wa mainichi heya de sakebimasu – 僕は毎日部屋で叫びます (ぼくはまいにちへやでさけびます)
I shout in my room every day.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- mainichi – 毎日 (まいにち) : an adverb meaning ‘every day’ in Japanese.
- heya – 部屋 (へや) : a noun meaning ‘room’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- de – で : a case particle used to say where someone does something. In the example, this is used after “heya” to say where the speaker shouts every day.
This is a typical usage of “sakebimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to mean ‘to shout’ politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.
Sakenda: the past tense form of “sakebu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “sakenda”.
- sakenda – 叫んだ (さけんだ) : the past tense form of “sakebu”, which means ‘shouted’, ‘yelled’, ‘screamed’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “sakenda” consists of the following two parts:
- saken – 叫ん (さけん) : one conjugation of “sakebu”. This can have a smooth connection with “da”.
- da – だ : the voiced version of “ta” which is an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “sakenda” is literally the past tense form of “sakebu” and means ‘shouted’, ‘yelled’, ‘screamed’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “shouted” in Japanese
kyou wa kyoushitsu de sakenda – 今日は教室で叫んだ (きょうはきょうしつでさけんだ)
Today I shouted in the classroom.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with the binding particle, “wa”, to make the adverb phrase which means ‘today’ in Japanese.
- kyoushitsu – 教室 (きょうしつ) : a noun meaning ‘classroom’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “sakenda”. When we want to use the past tense form of “sakebu”, this form is the best option.
Sakende: the te form of “sakebu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “sakende”.
- sakende – 叫んで (さけんで) : the te form of “sakebu”, which means ‘to shout’, ‘to yell’, or ‘to scream’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “sakende” consists of the following two parts:
- saken – 叫ん (さけん) : one conjugation of “sakebu”. This can have a smooth connection with “de”.
- de – で : the voiced version of “te” which is a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “sakende” is literally the te form of “sakebu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “sakende” is very useful when we want to use “sakebu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “shout and” in Japanese
tamani otona mo sakende abareru – たまに大人も叫んで暴れる (たまにおとなもさけんであばれる)
Occasionally adults shout and behave violently, too.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- tamani – たまに : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘occasionally’ in Japanese.
- otona – 大人 (おとな) : a noun meaning ‘adult’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’, ‘also’, or ‘as well’. In the example, this works after “otona” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
- abareru – 暴れる (あばれる) : a verb meaning ‘to behave violently’ or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “sakende”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “abareru”. When we want to use “sakebu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Sakebeba: the ba form of “sakebu”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “sakebeba”.
- sakebeba – 叫べば (さけべば) : the ba form of “sakebu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to shout’, ‘to yell’, or ‘to scream’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “sakebeba” consists of the following two parts:
- sakebe – 叫べ (さけべ) : one conjugation of “sakebu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “sakebeba” is literally the ba form of “sakebu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “sakebeba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to shout’, ‘to yell’, or ‘to scream’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if shout” in Japanese
kimi ga sakebeba, kodomo wa naku yo – 君が叫べば、子供は泣くよ (きみがさけべば、こどもはなくよ)
If you shout, your kids will cry.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kimi – 君 (きみ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kimi” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
- naku – 泣く (なく) : a verb meaning ‘to cry’ in Japanese.
- yo – よ : a sentence-ending particle used to state the fact or idea softly. As the definition suggests, this is used at the end of the example sentence to state the speaker’s idea softly.
This is a typical usage of “sakebeba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kimi ga sakebeba”, which means ‘if you shout’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to shout’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “sakebu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- sakebu – 叫ぶ (さけぶ) : a verb meaning ‘to shout’, ‘to yell’, or ‘to scream’ in Japanese.
- sakebanai – 叫ばない (さけばない) : the nai form of “sakebu”, which means ‘not to shout’, ‘not to yell’, or ‘not to scream’ in Japanese.
- sakebou – 叫ぼう (さけぼう) : the volitional form of “sakebu”, which expresses volition to shout, yell, or scream.
- sakebimasu – 叫びます (さけびます) : the masu form of “sakebu”, which means ‘to shout’, ‘to yell’, or ‘to scream’ politely in Japanese.
- sakenda – 叫んだ (さけんだ) : the past tense form of “sakebu”, which means ‘shouted’, ‘yelled’, ‘screamed’, or such in Japanese.
- sakende – 叫んで (さけんで) : the te form of “sakebu”, which means ‘to shout’, ‘to yell’, or ‘to scream’ in Japanese. When we want to use “sakebu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- sakebeba – 叫べば (さけべば) : the ba form of “sakebu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to shout’, ‘to yell’, or ‘to scream’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
